Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer speaks during a Wednesday ceremony to mark the beginning of critical Downtown Fresno infrastructure improvements. City of Fresno photo

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer held a ceremony on Wednesday to announce the start of infrastructure improvements to water and sewer systems in Downtown Fresno and Chinatown beginning in the next several weeks.

The project, one the city calls a “pivotal step towards the growth of our city’s core,” is moving forward thanks to support from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and state representatives.

“To build vertically, we have to fix what’s underground first,” Dyer said. “I’m very grateful to the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development for funding this initial work, and I’m appreciative of the Governor and the State for continuing to invest in Fresno. Great cities have great downtowns!”

The project, costing just over $22.2 million, is expected to be completed in late 2025 and will see infrastructure improvements in various locations from O Street to E Street, as well as work done near Chukchansi Park, Chinatown on Tulare Street and the surrounding areas and H Street east of Highway 41.

The project will be split into segments over the next year, with each section taking approximately two to four weeks to complete. Work in these areas will involve trenching, excavation, pavement restoration and other improvements, helping transform the area to be better prepared for future improvements.

Business that will be impacted by construction will be notified by the city ahead of time.

“I share the same enthusiasm as many in our community, as we now have the resources and capability to upgrade our century-old underground infrastructure,” said Councilmember Miguel Arias. “Thanks to the support of Governor Gavin Newson, I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the GO-Biz team for their work in this historic achievement. These improvements will lay the groundwork needed, as we continue our efforts in building up in Chinatown and Downtown Fresno.”

Sen. Anna Caballero and Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula both praised the efforts of Go-Biz and the work of their respective offices for securing the funds necessary to complete the project.

The first construction contract, which will see 15,325 linear feet of water mains and just under 9,000 linear feet of sewer mains, was awarded to Floyd Johnston Construction Company, Inc.